Choking Game" Proves Deadly for Kids and Teens"

What This Means to You

Unfortunately, many parents have never even heard of the choking game — until it's too late. And, even then, they may think it was a suicide rather than a "game" that went horribly wrong.

The only thing you can really do to prevent a tragedy like this is to look for red flags and talk to your kids about just how deadly this new fad is.

Warning signs to watch for, according to the CDC, include:

• red eyes
• "petechiae" on the face (tiny specks of blood that have leaked from small blood vessels in the skin), particularly on the eyelids or the lining of the eyelids and eyes (called the conjunctiva)
• regular, severe headaches
• unusual marks or bruising on the neck
• wearing shirts that cover up the neck, no matter what the weather
• seeming out of it after being alone
• finding strange noose-like objects lying around — things like choke collars, dog leashes, and bungee cords; or ropes, scarves, or belts that are either tied to doorknobs and furniture or tied in knots on the floor

The CDC says it's also wise to listen for any talk of the game, which goes by these other names, too:

• airplaning
• blacking out/blackout
• California choke
• cloud nine
• dream game
• fainting game
• flat liner
• pass-out game
• purple dragon
• purple hazing
• scarf game
• something dreaming game
• space cowboy
• space monkey
• suffocation roulette
• the American dream

Kids and teens may engage in risky behaviors (whether it's the choking game, unsafe sex, drugs, alcohol, or tobacco) for many reasons, including low self-esteem and peer pressure. Other risk factors include:

• low grades or poor school achievement
• hostile, defiant behavior
• tendency to be influenced excessively by peers
• history of behavior problems or drug use by siblings or friends

Of course, some kids may show no warning signs of previous problems whatsoever. They might have heard about the game and simply think it's just a silly, harmless thing to try — it can even seem daring and sort of exciting. But it's important to explain to your kids that it's anything but fun — that playing just once could cost them their lives.

Source: "Unintentional Strangulation Deaths from the "Choking Game" Among Youths Aged 6-19 Years — United States, 1995-2007," Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), Feb. 15, 2008; "Research Update, The Choking Game: CDC's Findings on a Risky Youth Behavior."